Book XV 889The king said, “My three brothers first stood up for a great cause and
gave themselves to the founding of a new dynasty. Hence, their contribu-
tions are so great that they cannot be forgotten even if the Yellow River
dries up to look like a thin belt and Tai Mountain shrinks as small as a whet-
stone. At first, the former king [T’aejo] had their contributions not recorded
and publicly recognized because they were his own sons, and nothing has
changed until now. However, it is the unchanging law and custom of all ages
that one who makes contributions to the state should be rewarded, and
therefore I cannot help doing what I should do.” Then he bestowed upon
each of them thirty male and female slaves and 200 kyŏl of land, and ordered
shrines built in their honor and their portraits hung in them, and their con-
tributions inscribed on the monuments.16th Day (Muo)
The king attended the royal lecture. Yi Sŏ, deputy director of royal lectures,
made a presentation of a chapter in the Analects, which was about the folly
of usurped sacrifices committed by the chief of the Ji family.^30 Expositor
(siganggwan) Yu Kwan stepped forward and said, “According to the Book
of Rites, the Son of Heaven sacrifices to heaven and earth, and the princes
of the states to the mountains and rivers that are in their own territories.
Therefore, when the chief of the Ji family sacrificed to Tai Mountain,
Confucius reproached this seriously.^31 Then, it is also against propriety that
the high officials of our country sacrifice to famous mountains.”
The king asked, “If this is so, why was such a practice allowed to con-
tinue until now?” Yu Kwan replied, “It started in the previous dynasty. As
we failed to prohibit it at the beginning of our dynasty, we still have it now.
We urge Your Majesty to prohibit it.”
17th Day (Kimi)
Cho Chun, left chancellor, Cho Pak, concurrent inspector-general, Ha Yun,
assistant grand councilor, Yi Ch’ŏm, academician of the Chancellery, Cho
Yong, left grand master of remonstrance, Chŏng Io, vice minister of the
Court of Royal Sacrifices, and others jointly compiled the Compendium of- “Bayi,” Analects, Confucius (Legge, p. 156).
- “The Royal Regulations,” The Li Ki (Legge, p. 225).